Almost every afternoon after work, I drive to Glendora to buy a cup of coffee and then go to my favorite park for a walk. The last few months a homeless man named Wayne has taken up residence in one of the dugouts. Occasionally during my visits, I would stop and talk with him. We wouldn’t discuss anything too important. Basically we would just shoot the breeze. I would ask how he was doing and he would tell me about his bicycle, or his medical issues or what he had done that day. On the times when he and his bicycle were gone, his belongings remained neatly stacked in the corner of the dugout. 

Today the dugout was empty. I stood there a while in the empty dugout filled with a bit of shock and sadness. The reality that a man ate, slept and lived in this small space weighed heavily on me. I don’t know if he was run off or if he found a better location. I don’t know if he will return or if I will ever see him again. But I miss Wayne. And I pray he is doing well and that God is with him.

Update Sep 8, 2019: I saw Wayne in downtown Glendora last night. I asked him where he had been and he jokingly said, “You know, it’s all about location, location, location. Don’t tell my stockholders where I’m at.” I’m glad he’s okay.

Image created with an iPhone.